But the Hawks could also move the pick to Cleveland or another team hoping to trade into the draft. If the Hawks are going to pick up a young veteran by trade, they need to do so by draft night while they still have $4.6 million in cap space that permits them to take on more salary than they're trading away. That makes Atlanta a highly seductive trading partner -- but that space will vanish July 1 when its two first-round picks are automatically applied to the cap. Atlanta is in a much stronger position to trade now than it will be next month.

This is just a writer theorizing. He never actually says that the Cavs are looking into the #3 pick.

Nothing wrong with dreaming and coming up with scenarios. You know Ferry wants to do something big this offseason. Trading up for the #3 pick would definitely do it. I just dont know who Atlanta would want off our roster.

MacGregor

Just hoping my child doesn't have to go grow up in a world where Cleveland Sports are terrible like I had to.

well reading the article, atlanta wants more big men that are more post type players. so i could see trading gooden or possibly a sign and trade for andy, and we'd probably have to throw them at least one bench player too

Looking over Atlanta's roster, they don't have a real albatross contract holding them back. The worst they have is probably Speedy Claxton's, with 4 years remaining at over $6M per, probably over $7M per starting next year.

But, a trade that does work under the cap would be Gooden, Wesley's contract, Newble's contract (or Damon Jones), either Boobie or Shannon Brown (or even both - hypothetically), $3M cash, plus either 2008 or 2009's 1st round pick (Hawks choice) for Claxton, Lorenzen Wright, and the #3 pick.

With the #3 pick we take Conley or Horford (I vote Conley, but I like floor generals), and try to sign someone like McDyess or Blatche in free agency. If we were to take Conley, it does leave us a little thin up front and loaded in the backcourt, although Snow is aging, and is little more than a coach at this point. We'd probably spend the first part of the year letting Conley learn behind Claxton and Snow.

Atlanta would get a decent big man in Gooden, a young guard (or two), and some cap space for next year. Gooden's deal isn't very long, nor is it very expensive for a player of his caliber. In a couple years, a lot of their contracts are off the table (save for Zaza Pachulia and Joe Johnson - but that's only 16M between them, so roughly $25M in guaranteed deals at worst, figuring in rising contracts and draft picks) which leaves them with roughly $25M to spend in 2 years.

I dunno. I doubt they'd go for something like that for the #3 pick, but stranger trades have happened.

As for Garnett, I'd be shocked if we were able to get him. I'm glad Ferry is at least talking with them...it shows he's doing his job. But I just don't see how we'd have anywhere near enough to get him unless he really became a malcontent and they were willing to dump him.

The guy I'd be looking to get, and I really think we could get him, is Zach Randolph. I think the pupu platter of expiring contracts and Damon Jones might be enough. I think Portland just wants to get rid of him before he gets to their draft pick, and if they get cap space in the process, goodie for them. Then you turn around and trade one of Gooden, Varejao or (hope hope hope) Marshall for a PG, and you're in good shape for next year.

With no 1st round pick to swap them with and also throw in a promising good player.....it will take something like Boobi AND one of Gooden/Varejao to get that pick. And, still, I don't think it is enough.

Cavs need to concentrate on the lower third of the first rounf in this deep draft, as we'll have a much easier time maneuvering into the #18-29 range than to #3.